Float-ball for steam-traps



(No Model.)

P. BARKER. FLOAT BALL FOR STEAM TRAYS, 8m.

Patented Apr. 11 ,1882.

INVENTOH few fl ur/[0r %VYITNE8SES A i g I By law Attorneys u. wn'zna mwmwmphw. washinglulyp. a

IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER BARKER, OF ANSONI A, CONNECTICUT.

FLOAT-BALL F-OR 'STEAM-TRAPS, 80G.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,270, dated April 11, 1882.

Application filed February 9, 1882. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER BARKER, of Ansonia, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improved Float-Ball for Steam Traps, Water-Tanks, 850., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

Heretofore float-balls have generally been made by being spun of sheet-copper in hemispheres, then lapped together and brazed at thejoint; but they are apt to leak and fill with water, and also to collapse from the pressure of steam.

My invention is designed to overcome these objections, and accordingly I first form a hollow ball of two united hemispheres of wood, paper, vulcanized fiber, metal, or any other suitable economical material; but wood, being light, cheap, and sufiiciently strong, will serve the purpose well enough. This ball forms a light, strong foundation for the final exterior casing, and I apply to it the ordinary brass nipple, screw-threaded for attachment to a suitable link or lever, and properly secured, as usual. I then electroplate the ball, thus formed, with copper preferably, but any other suitable metal may beused, alter which it is tinned over thoroughly. I thus produce a seamlessball not liable to leak, and the-internal go-jointed foundation, together with the outer seamless casing, are of such strength as to prevent all danger oi collapsing under pressure of steam, while at the same time light enough to float.

In addition to theimprovementin the quality of my ball thus produced, it has the advantage, also, of economy of construction as compared with the metallic jointed balls usually heretofore employed.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating my invention, A indicates the interiorjointed hollow wooden ball composed of the two hemispheres B B, suitably united and forming the foundation for the exterior thin metallicseam- 

